Grieving father gets community leaders' support

An Estero father is fighting for change after his daughter was killed while crossing the intersection of US 41 and Sweetwater Ranch Boulevard near the Coconut Point Mall last week.

Now, he's getting the support of several Lee County leaders, and even some state legislators.

Friday, the Estero Council of Community Leaders unanimously approved a resolution demanding the Florida Department of Transportation add a crosswalk, traffic light and reduce the speed in that area from 55 to 45.

17-year-old Danielle Chapman was killed February 1st, when she crossed the intersection of US-41 and Sweetwater Ranch Boulevard and stepped in front of a van.

On Friday, her father, Daniel Chapman sat in a packed ECCL meeting. His eyes were fixated on the floor, his daughter's photo clutched in his arms.

"It is so heart aching because I miss my daughter but this is what she'd want me to do," said Chapman.

Danielle would want her father, Chapman says, to fight for changes at the busy intersection.

They are changes Estero fire commissioner Dick Schweers has been begging for for years.

"The sad thing is, it has to come as the result of a tragedy. We had predicted someone would get killed one of these days," said Schweers.

The Lee County community has launched forward with support. Once the ECCL unanimously approved its resolution, Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah vowed to take the resolution to his colleagues. Then, a relative's company offered to pay for any improvements.

Michael Genovesi is Danielle's uncle. His company, Custom Developments in Naples has offered to pick up the bill if the Florida Department of Transportation approves the changes.

"If we can save one person's life, or one person from being injured, then at least in my heart I know my niece didn't die in vain," Genovesi said.

Friday, Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto also announced her support of the resolution, and a copy of the resolution was given to Governor Scott's office.

While the Florida Department of Transportation has agreed to study the intersection in 2013, FDOT spokesperson Debbie Tower tells us in order to qualify for a light, traffic from side streets would have to double. Otherwise, she says, adding a full traffic signal could actually cause more accidents.

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